Hōʻawa
Pittosporum hosmeri
These are usually small trees up to about 20-25 ft. tall with long tear-drop shaped leaves. The young leaves as well as the underside of the more mature leaves are usually covered with minute, golden-brown hairs. Their flowers emerge as “manapua” shaped clusters which protrude right out of the stems. Once pollinated, they develop into large nut shaped capsules that are almost cubicle in form and about three inches long and 1-2 inches wide. Inside are numerous reddish-black seeds which totally stand out against the bright orange inner surface of the seed capsule.
He kumulāʻau ka hōʻawa; iwakālua a iwakāluakūmālima kapuaʻi ke kiʻekiʻe, a he mau lāu oloolo. Uhi ʻia nā lau ʻōpiopio a me ke kua o nā lau nui i ka heu ʻula. Kohu manapua ka ʻāhui pua o ka hōʻawa. Ke hua aʻe, he mau hua (ʻekolu ʻīniha ka lōʻihi, hoʻokahi a ʻelua ʻīniha ke ākea) a nui nā ʻanoʻano ʻeleʻele i loko o ka hua ʻālani.
This plant is only found on the island of Hawai’i but through out leeward side from Kohala to Ka’u in mesic forests.
Ma ka mokupuni ʻo Hawaiʻi wale nō e ulu ai ka hōʻawa; mai Kohala a i Kaʻū i loko o ka wao maʻukele.
There isn’t much known about this plant from a cultural point of view but in nature it is interesting to see the seed capsules when they become ripe. At this point they open up by fold back and exposing the bright orange inner surface and dark seeds within. This is to attract birds that feed on the oily seeds and help the plant with seed dispersal. In fact this is one of the favorite foods of the nearly extinct ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi crow the ‘alala.
ʻAʻole nō maopopo leʻa nā hana a pau o ka hōʻawa. Akā nani nō ka ʻike ʻana i nā hua o ka hōʻawa. ʻŌmaʻomaʻo ka ʻili o ka hua, akā i ka pala ʻana o ka hua, nahā ihola a ʻike ʻia ka ʻiʻo ʻālani o loko. ʻAi ʻia nā ʻanoʻano e nā manu a he ʻai punahele ia na ka ʻalalā.
Easily one of the nicest foliage plants native to Hawaiʻi these plants do great in full sun to partial shade in well drained soil with little to moderate watering. The foliage along with the unique form of the flower clusters and stunning seed capsules make this an extraordinary plant. If left alone to grow it will be a large bush but full of foliage from bottom to top. Few pests bother this plant once it is established in the ground but prior to that happening watch out for mealy bugs, scale and the formation of sooty mold. If you notice these pests on the plant you can simply treat it with a store bought pesticide and fungicide being sure to follow the directions on the bottle carefully. Right now beautiful specimens of this plant in three gallon pots are available at Hui Ku Maoli Ola native plant nursery for $40.
E kanu i ka hōʻawa i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā i loko o ka lepo ʻano ʻākeke. ʻAʻole pono ka wai he nui. Nani nō ka hōʻawa i loko o ka māla ma muli o nā lau nani a me ka hua ʻālani. Inā waiho ʻia ka hōʻawa, lilo ana i lāʻau pūnohunohu. ʻAʻole nō nui nā mū e pilikia ai ka hōʻawa, akā ma mua o ka paʻa ʻana o ka lāʻau ma ka honua, e makaʻala i nā mū a me ka punahelu. Ke ʻike ʻia nā mū, e hoʻopuehu i kekahi ʻano lāʻau pepehi mū.
This plant also goes by the name ha’awa, a’awa, a’awa hua kukui. The latter name ‘a’awa hua kukui probably stems from the fact that this plant’s fruit (hua) somewhat resembles that of a kukui nut.
Eia kekahi mau inoa ʻē aʻe no ka hōʻawa: hāʻawa, ʻaʻawa, a ʻaʻawa hua kukui. Ma muli paha o ke kohu hua kukui e kapa ʻia ai he ʻawa “hua kukui.”